Last Friday Chase Worthen of Nice and Easy Co. came out to teach us and a handful of workshop attendees tips and tricks to create your perfect outdoor cocktail experience. The drinks Chase demonstrated ran the gamut from outdoor-inspired cocktails to full on sip-as-you-trek-high-into-the-mountaintops hot toddies.
Pack wisely—a multitool comes in handy when saving space is a concern and the need to juice citrus on the fly is a priority. Or better yet, pre-batch your drinks in a Barebones canteen to be able to sip hot toddies or mimosas without holding up your crew of eager hikers.
Keep it simple—there’s a time and a place for classic sours, complete with a lush cap of froth from farm-fresh egg whites, but for campsite sipping you’ll be just as satisfied with something more streamlined like a Lavender Gimlet or a seasonally inspired Old Fashioned variation.
Little touches can make a big difference—find bitters you love to make a classic cocktail your own and don’t neglect to run that swath of orange peel around the rim of your glass for an extra hit of citursy notes.
Most of all—enjoy the spirit of what brings you outside, together with friends. The best thing about learning to make new drinks is getting to share them with friends.
Story and photos by Caroline Hargraves
Recipes by: Chase Worthen of Nice & Easy Co.
Lady Luck (Lavender Gimlet)
Ingredients
Yields 1 serving
- 2 dash Scrappy's Lavender bitters
- .5 oz simple syrup
- .75 oz fresh lime juice
- 1.5 oz Beehive Jack Rabbit gin
- Lime wedge for garnish
Instructions
Add ingredients to shaker with ice, shake, and strain with Hawthorne strainer into double rocks glass with ice. Garnish with lime wedge.
Seasonal Old Fashioned
Ingredients
Yields 1 serving
- 2 dash Angostura bitters
- 2 dash barrel-aged Peychaud's bitters
- .25 oz simple syrup
- 2 oz Buffalo Trace bourbon
- Orange twist for garnish
Instructions
Built in glass: Add ingredients into double rocks glass, add ice, and stir 10-15 rotations. Garnish with orange peel.
Hot Toddy
Ingredients
Yields 1 serving
- 4-5 oz hot water
- .25 oz honey syrup
- .25 oz allspice dram
- .5 oz ginger
- .5 oz fresh lemon juice
- 1.5 oz Buffalo Trace bourbon
- Coffee mug
- Lemon wheel for garnish
Instructions
Pre-warm coffee mug with hot water. Add ingredients except water into a small shaker tin or canteen and shake. Pour mixture into coffee mug and top with 4-5 oz hot water.
